Apparatus for lifting stacks of bricks and the like



Feb. 9, 1954 H. J. NEHER 2,668,731

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING STACKS OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 25, 19514 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. l/EKBERT J- WEI/B? BY $5M Feb. 9, 1954 H. J.NEHER 2,668,731

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING STACKS OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 25, 1951JNVENTOR. HEKABERT d. NEHER BY I 177 7' ORA E Y5 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb.9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR LIFTING STACKS OF BRICKS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug.25, 1951 H. J. NEHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. flfike'kr J. NEHEI? BYZH. J. NEHER Feb. 9, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1951 7 a: Z E

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L w w PLAN. f Z W h a! Ag 9 w. M u Z? a ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Herbert J. N eher, Decatur, Ala.

Application August 25, 1951, Serial No. 243,730

1% filaims. 1;

My present invention relates to apparatus for lifting'sta'cks ofobjectssuch as bricks, concrete blocks, similar building units and thelilze,and has for an object the provision of such apparatus embodying a mainframe having portions disposed to lie alongside and over the stack, aset of grippers operatively carried by the main frame movable laterallyof the stack toward each other to grip the stack therebetween', togetherwith means connected'to the grippers effective to cause the grippers tomove evenly and concomitantly into clamping engagement with the stack.

A; morespecificobject of my invention is to provide brick handlingapparatus embodying a main frame formed of lei-shaped sectionsheld inspaced relation to each other by suitable members and disposed for oneleg" thereof to overliethe stack and iorthe other leg to standvertically at one side thereof, a stack gripper frame comprising aplurality of sets of vertical arms disposed-on opposite sidesofthestack, the sets of corresponding'gripper arms being movable towardeach other by'means' of links pivotally connected to the arms at theirouter ends'and connected to vertieally movable membersat their innerends, each of the sets of arms being provided with co-actingguide'memb'ers effective to cause the same to move toward each: other,all of the sets of grippers being actuated through a vertically movableequalizing bar and cable arrangement, whereby upon upward movement ofthe equalizing bar all of the sets of grippers contact the stack withequal pressure; effectively grippingthe stack for lifting the same.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character designated inwhich each of the oppositely disposed sets of gripper arms are movedtoward each other by means of independently movable sheave blocksoperatively connected. to the inner ends of the links, the sheaves beingconnected to the equalizing bar by means of a rope or cablepassing'under the sheavesan'd over sheaves or rollers carried by theequalizing bar.

Another object is to provide brick handling app atus in which other setsof grippers are pro vi ed for engaging the ends of the stack and inwhich these grippers are automatically opened toreceive the stack andautomatically engage the e apparatus is lifted, thereby preventi6iricirs at ends of the stack from falling-crf when the stack is raised.

Further objects of my invention are to pro vide apparatus of thecharacter designated which shall be simple and durable of construction;in which the number and complexity of the parts is reduced to a minimum,thus making the'sapiparatus suitable for use under the rugged conditionsencountered around brick yards; toeproe vide simple, manuallyengageablemeans tOrlUGk the grippers in open, stack receiving. position;which means is automatically disengagediwhen the apparatus is loweredabout the stack and to provide vertically slidable'gauges? on portionsof the main frame nearest the operator of the lift'truck or other meansused to raise the ap. paratus by means of which the apparatus may bequickly and accurately centered overra stack; facilitating the placingof the" same: about. the stack.

Apparatus illustrating the features of my ins vention is shown in theaccompanying'drawings forming a part of this application in which:.

Fig. l is a side elevationaliview of my'iinproved brick handlingapparatus mounted. on thetalift structure of a lift truck and-shown inplace-about a stack of bricks, the gripping framebeing; in openposition;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational'viewtaken-generally along line 11-11 ofFig. 1', portions of the: lift truck mechanism being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of'theappartltus in raised position,preparatory. to being lowered about a stack of'bricks;

Fig. is a iragmental end elevational View showing the device loweredabout a stackoflbrioks and with the grippers clamped about'the' stack,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmental detail sectional View taken generallyalong line V V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view takengenerally along line VI-VI ofFig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a fragmental detail view taken along line VII- VII of Fig. l,the View being enlarged for the sake of clarity; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my inventionand morepartlbularly to Fig. 1, I show my improved apparatus associatedwith a lift truck Ill. Inthe manner understood, the truck I i} comprisesa vertical column ll. Slidable within the column H is a block or thelike M which may be raised and lowered by means of a hydraulic cylinderl3: Projecting forwardly of the block l2 and car ried thereby is a boomM- which may be'rigidly braced by a suitable knee brace 16". Means; oshown, are provided for supplying fluid under pressure to the lower endof cylinder t3, ther8- by to raise the boom [4 vertically.

My improvedv brick handling apparatus comprises a main or supportingframe indicated generally by the numeral IT. The frame I? may compriseintegrally formed, L-shaped sections each of which comprises a rearvertical leg 58 and a horizontal base section l9. It will be noted thatthere are two of the main frame sections I1 and that they are held inspaced relation by means of lateral angles 22. and 29. The lower ends ofthe legs l8 are disposed to rest on the surface supporting the stackwhen the device is placed about a stack of bricks indicated by theletter S. V V

Secured to the horizontal base portions I9 of the main frame sections I!are upstanding, spaced apart guide members 24 and 26. The upper ends ofthe sets of upright members 24 and 26 may be cross-braced by plates 21.The sets of members 24-26 may be cross connected by means of a bar 28secured thereto as by means of bolts 29.

The gripping frame for my improved apparatus comprises a plurality ofspaced apart arms 3i formed of steel bars or the like. As illustrated inFigs. 1, 3 and 4 the arms 3| converge inwardly from the top to thebottom so that in the manner later to be explained the lower endsthereof contact the lower course of bricks in the stack S. The innerfaces may be provided with half round gripping pads 3la at the lowerends of the arms 3|. On the front side of the apparatus are a similarset of gripping members indicated by the numeral 32, which'also slopeinwardly as illus trated and which may carry half round pads 32a atthelower ends thereof. gripping arms 3| and 32 are substantially alignedtransversely of the stack S and I preferably provide a front and reararm for each of the individual bricks or the like forming the lowercourse as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

The rear arms 3| of the gripping frame each carry a horizontal, inwardlyextending rod 33 made fast as by welding to the inner side thereof. Thefront legs 32 each carry a horizontally'disposed, inwardly'extendingtube 34, likewise made fast to the inner side thereof as by welding.Rods 33 fit snugly and slidably within the tubes 34 for a purpose laterto be explained.

Secured to the inner faces of each of the front and rear legs, justbeneath the rods or tubes carried thereby are horizontally disposedlengths of tubing 39. (See Figs. '7 and 8.) The lengths of tubing 36 maybe welded to the inner sides of the legs 3| and 32 to form a bearing. Ateach end of each of the lengths of tubing 36 are inwardly directed links3! and 38. Headed pins 39 pass through suitable openings in the linksand thence through the tubes 96 and are held in place by means of cotterpins or the like 4|. will thusbe apparent that each of the arms 9! and32 is provided with a pair of links 31 and 38 which are pivotallyconnected thereto by means of the tubes 36 and the pins 39. The innerends of each of the sets of links 3'! and 38 are pivotally connected bymeans of pins 49 and 42 to clevises 43 and 44 which depend'from thesides of sheave blocks 46. The clevises are disposed to stradle thetubes 34 when the apparatus is lowered about a stack of bricks as willlater become apparent.

In each of the blocks 46 is a sheave 47, journalled l, n a suitablebearing pin 48. The tubes 94 are Wired to the lateral angle 22 of themain frame y means of straps 45 which are welded to j gczuozes andbolted to the laterally extending The corresponding Slidable verticallybetween the uprights 24 and 26 is an equalizing bar indicated generallyby the numeral 49. The equalizing bar 49 com prises parallel, spacedapart bars 5! and 52 which are cross connected by a plurality of bolts53 and which may be held in spaced relation by any suitable means, notshown. Mounted for rotation on the bolts 53 are sheaves 54 which are sospaced longitudinally of the equalizing bar 49 as to lie approximatelymidway between adjacent ones of the sheave blocks 46. Secured to a rivet56 or the like passing between the bars 5! and 52 is one end of aflexible member 57 such for instance as a cable or wire rope. Asillustrated in Fig. 2 the cable 51 is threaded alternately underthe'sheaves 47 and over the sheaves 54 and finally is secured to a rivet58 at the opposite end of the equalizing bar 49.

Mounted for oscillation in bearings 59 and 6| carried on top of the setsof uprights 24-26 is a cross shaft 62. Secured to the shaft 62 andextending outwardly and downwardly thereof on the side of the apparatustoward the lift truck 19 are bars 63 and 64. On the opposite side andextending in an opposite direction from the bars 63 and 64 is a thirdbar 66, the purpose of which is to counterweight the bars 63 and 64 tobias the same to the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

Secured to the top of the shaft 62 is a short length of bar 61. bar 61is a rope or the like 68 which is placed in reach of the operator of thelift truck M.

In order to assure that bricks at the end of the stack do not fall offwhile the stack is being moved, I provide end gripping means which will7 now be described. Since the grippers at each end are identical, adescription of one will sufiice for both. At each end of the stack S Iprovide depending grippers in the form of bars 69. The bars preferablyare so spaced that each one engages the bricks of the uppermost courses.Since the lowermost course is clamped by the main gripper arms, it isnot necessary that the end grippers engage the lowermost course. Thebars 69 are secured at their upper ends to an angle H Secured to theangle H and projecting over the stack S in a length of flat steel stock12. The flat plate 12 passes slidably through straps'l3 and I4- securedin any suitable manner tothe upper side of a relatively'largerectangular section of plate 16. The plates '16 at each end of theapparatus are cross connected by lengths of plate 15. 'As will be laterexplained the plate 16 and the cross plate 15 are adapted to rest uponthe upper course of bricks when the device is lowered thereover. Fittingloosely over the superjacent one of the tubes 34 are U-shaped straps l!and 18 which are secured at their lower ends to the plate 16.

Secured to the inner end of the plat 12 is a cross member 19. Tensionspring BI and 92 have their ends secured to the strap 13 and to the bar19 as shown in Fig. 6. A pair of other tension springs 83 and 94 aresecured at 88 and 8? to the angle H and at their opposite ends aresecured to the ends 88 and 89 of a flexible tension member such as acable 9|. The cable 9! passes under the centermost one of the crosstubes 34 and may be secured to the superjacent one of the pins 40 or 42passing through the clevises 43 and 44 of the centermost sheave block49.

Mounted slidably about the main frame legs l8 are plate members 92. Themembers 92 may comprise a lower inwardly bowed section 93 and Fastenedto the top of the' accs vsi an upper generailvflat' section 943'I'liemem- 'bers"92l' maybe held" slidably'about the legs l8 by meansofstrapsBIi asill'ustrat'ad in Figs; 1 andz; Limit chains 91 may beprovidedtolimit downward sliding movement of the members 92, all .for apurpose which will" presently be more definitely set forth.

Referring more particularlyto Figs. 1' and 2, the equalizing bar 49 maybe operatively' connected to the. boom l4 of the' lift truck by means ofa cross bar 98" carried bythe boom I 4. De-

pending'from the ends of the lift bar 9'8 are cables 99 and i! whichpass lo'oselythrough suitable. openings 102 and 93 in the plates-s21.Thelo'wer'en-ds of the cables 99" and fill may be connected to theequalizing-bareaby means of c'l'evis shaped straps Hi l and I06.

On the arms 3| nearest the'ends of the apparatus I may provide auxiliarygripping means The lower ends of the same may bebent inwardly toward thestack S as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 3' and 4. The purpose ofthesespring fingers is to grip the end bricks of'the lower course morefirmlyso that when the arms 3'! move inwardly to clamp the stack theseend. bricks are not permitted to twist and fall. from the grippingunits.

From the foregoing the method of constructing and using my improvedapparatus may now be explained. and understood. Wtih the apparatusassembled on a lift truck or like apparatus so that power for liftingthe same may be applied to the equalizing bar d9, it will be apparentthat if the device is resting. on the ground or other surface, not.surrounding a stack of bricks, the entire apparatus is supported by thelegs 18 and the front gripping arms 32. In this position,v by furtherlowering the boom M the weight of the parts, including thesheavev blocks46', the tubes 35, rods 33 and the links 38 causes the links themselvesto assum th position shown in Figs. 1 ancl2; Downward movement of thesheave blocks 46 is limited by the same coming to rest on top or theguide tubes 34. In this position it will be apparent that the grippingarms 3i have movedoutwardly, awayfrom theforward arms 32; It will beapparent also that the cables 9! are slacked, permitting the tensionsprings 8! and 82 to move the plate '12 outwardly, thus moving the endgripping members 69 away from each other; thus opened the operator pullson the rope 68, rocking the bars 53 in position to be engaged by theequalizing bar 453' when lift is next applied toth equalizing barthrough the cables 39 and till. The operator nowra'ises upwardly on theboom I 5, causing theequalizing' bar to come chock -a -bloclr" with thetwo bars "63 and 64, locking the apparatus in open position; Uponfurther upward movement of the boom'l i' the entire apparatus israisedoff'theground and is now ready to be placed about a stack of bricks S tobe lifted. It will be noted that as soon as the legs [8 clear the groundthe plate'members 92 move downwardly so that they project below the endsof the legs is as illustrated iri'Fig. 3. Theoperator now movesthe'apparatustoa stack ofbricks s and by" eye centers the sameto-th'eright or left of thestack; Bymoving the tractor or lift truck forwardlyuntil the-p1ates92 contact 'the rear side of the stack asshown'in Withthe device the apparatusis lowered onto the stack it is supported fromthe top thereof on the plates 1'5 and 16. Upon" furtherslackening or thcables 99' and I05, gravity'moves the equalizing bar 49 downwardly," outof contact with the bars 63 and 64. The: unbalanced weight of the bar 66then causes" the" shaft carrying all of the bars to rock so that thebars occupy the position shown in Fig. 1. The operator now raises theboom M, putting tension-on cables 99 and Hit, thus moving the equalizingbar upwardly. This moves all of the sheave blocks 46 upwardly throughthe medium of cable 5?; moving th inner ends of the links 33 upwardly inresponse thereto. This causes the rods 33 to telescope further into thetubes 34, bringing" the rear arms 3| and the arms 32. into contact withthe lower course of the bricks at the front and rear sides of the stack.Simultaneously with this movement cables 9'! are tightenedj puttingtension on springs 83 and 84; thus moving" the end gripping membersfiFlinto engagement with the ends of the stack. Continued lift on thequalizing bar 49 causes the arms 3| a-Il'di32 tofirmlygrip the lowercourse of bricks, whereby the stack may be lifted clear of the groundand moved from place to place. Likewise; th end gripping members 69'grip more tightly? as thecentermost sheave block moves upwardly throughtheinedlum ofthe cables Bl. The springs 83' and 34 form a resilientconnection between the end grippers and their cables,

the stack, permitting these arms to move inwardly.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have devised an improvedapparatus for handling stacks-of brick, concrete blocks,.andsimil'arobjects. In actual practice I have found that my'invention ispractical in every way and that it is simple of 'c'on'struction. andeconomical of manufacture. a It will be noted that the cross barztextending betweenthe uprights acts as a stopfor the. bals' iii' andti4 iii resp'onse' to oscillation' of 'tlieshaft 62 so thatthese'ba'rsarecentere'cl' over the equalizing bar whenever the rope 63 i is?pulled:

My invention; is particularly adapted for use in picking up a staclriotbricks" or the like from a yardandplacingitheisame in a vehicle; Thus, asingle'lift truck equipped with on of myimprovedstack liftingmachinescan quickly load trucks calling at a bricli'yardor the like'by pickingup the stacks and-setting them on the body "ofthetrucki"Due'tothefactthat I provide sets of" gripper arm's equal in number tothe number 'of"ii1dividua-lunits in the lower course of the stack; Ido'not' h'ave to stack the" bricks on-pallets the entry of tine arms orthe like. Further, my

improved apparatus is effective in lifting a given number of courses ofstacked objects from the top of a high stack thereof as well as forlifting an entire stack placed on the ground or other supportingsurface.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks and the like, a main frameembodying vertical members disposed at one side of the stack andhorizontal members overlying the stack, stack gripping means comprisingsets of vertically disposed gripping arms with one arm of each setdisposed on the same side of the stack as the vertical members of themain frame, coacting gripping arm guide means overlying the stack someof which are secured to the main frame and holding the arms for slidablemovement toward and from the stack, means connecting the gripping armsto said guide means at points above the top of the stack, links pivotedto the gripping arms beneath the points of connection therewith of theassociated guide means and extending inwardly over the stack, upwardlymovable means connected to the inwardly extending end of the links, andmeans engaging the upwardly movable means and adapted to raise the samethereby bringing the gripping arms into contact with the stack.

2. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks and the like, an L-shapedframe having legs disposed substantially vertically alongside andsubstantially horizontally over the stack, at least one set of coactingstack grippers comprising generally vertically disposed arms located onopposite sides of the stack, coacting guide members carried by the frameand connected to the gripper arms adjacent the tops thereof andoverlying the stack, links pivotally connected to the arms and extendinginwardly over the stack, a member to which the links are pivotallyconnected adjacent their inner ends, and means operatively engaging themember and adapted to move the same upwardly thus bringing the gripperarms into contact with the stack.

3. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a mainframecomprising spaced apart L-shaped members having legs disposed generallyvertically along one side and generally horizontally' over the stack,stack gripping means comprising at least two sets of generallyvertically disposed arms with one arm of each set located on oppositesides of the stack and extending above the top of the stack, sets ofcoacting guide members secured to the sets of gripper arms near the topthereof and extending inwardly over the stack, means securing one of thecoacting guide members of each set to the horizontal legs of theL-shaped frame members, sets of links pivotally associated with thegripper arms and extending over the top of the stack, independentlymovable sheave blocks carrying sheaves to which sheave blocks the inner7 ends of the sets of links are pivotally connected,

an equalizing bar above the sheave blocks,

endsanchored and passing alternately under the sheaves in the blocks andover the sheaves on the equalizing bar, and means adapted to engage theequalizing bar and move the same upwardly thereby causing the gripperarms to clamp the stack therebetween.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the sets of coacting guidemembers each comprises a tube secured to the horizontal leg of theL-shaped frame member and connected adjacent its outer end to one arm ofa set thereof, and a cylindrical member carried by the other arm of theset and fitting slidably within the tube connected to its associatedarm.

5. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a mainsupporting frame having elements disposed along one side and over thestack, stack gripping means comprising vertically disposed sets of armslocated on opposite sides of the stack, lengths of tube secured to oneof the arms of each set near the upper end thereof and extendinginwardly toward the other arm of its set on the opposite side of thestack, cylindrical members secured to the other arm of the set on saidopposite side of the stack and projecting slidably into said tubes,means operatively securing the tubes to the members of the main frameoverlying the stack, sets of links pivotally connected at their outerends to the arms, a

sheave block for each set of links to which the inner ends thereof arepivotally connected, an equalizing bar mounted for vertical movementabove the sheave blocks, sheaves carried by the equalizing bar, flexiblemeans operatively connecting the sheaves whereby lifting force appliedto the equalizing bar is transmitted substantially equally to the sheaveblocks, and means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted to apply alifting force thereto thereby bringing the arms into contact with thestack.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which means is provided on thesupporting frame for locking the equalizing bar in lowered positionwhereby upon applying said lift force to the equalizing bar the gripperarms remain in spread, stack receiving position.

7. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a main framehaving a vertical portion disposed on one side of the stack and adaptedto rest on the surface supporting the stack, a horizontal mainframemember connected to the vertical portion and extending over the stack,at least one length of tube carried by the horizontal member of themainframe and directed inwardly over the stack, a first'stack gripping armcarried by and depending substantially ver-' tically from the outer endof said tube alongside one side of the stack, a cylindrical memberprojecting slidably into said tube, a second stack gripping arm carriedby and depending substantially vertically from the projecting end ofsaid cylindrical member, links pivotally and operatively connected attheir outer ends to said gripping arms and extending inwardly over thestack, a member to which the inner ends of said links are pivotallyconnected, and mean operatively engaging the member at the inner ends ofthe links and adapted to move the same upwardly thereby moving thegripping arms into clamping engagement with the stack.

8. In apparatus for lifting a stack of bricks or the like, a main framein the form of laterally spaced L-shaped sections having vertical legswhich are longer than the height of the stack to be lifted, the otherlegs of said sections extending over the stack, lateral braces rigidlyconnecting the main frame sections, a plurality of sets of stackgripping arms each set of which comprises one vertically disposed armrigidly connected adjacent its upper end to the main frame and dependingtherefrom at one side of the stack, a second arm for each set similar tothe first named arm supported for sliding move ment relative to the mainframe toward and from the first named arm, links operatively connectedto said arms and extending inwardly of the apparatus over the top of thestack, sheave blocks movable independently of each other to which thelinks of each set are pivotally connected, a flexible member passingunder the sheaves of the blocks, an equalizing bar above the sheaveblocks, said flexible member passing from the sheaves over members onthe equalizing bar, and means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted tomove the same upwardly thereby to clamp the stack and subsequent theretolift the entire apparatus and the stack.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the main frame is providedwith upstanding guide means restraining the equalizing bar to movementsubstantially vertically, and in which there is manually operatedmechanism carried by said upstanding guide means effective when engagedto hold the equalizing bar in lowered position while the apparatus isbeing raised.

10. In apparatus for clamping and lifting a stack of bricks or the like,a main frame having sections L-shaped as viewed in end elevation withone leg thereof disposed alongside the stack to rest on the surfacesupporting the stack and with the other leg overlying the stack, lateralcross bracing securing the main frame sections rigidly together, aplurality of horizontally disposed lengths of tube carried by the mainframe and projecting inwardly over the stack substantially parallel withthe overlying legs of the main frame sections, gripper arms secured tothe outer ends of the tubes and extending downwardly far enough toengage the bricks of the lower course at one side of the stack, membersslidable in said tubes, other stack gripping arms secured to anddepending from said slidable members and engageable with the bricks ofthe lower course on the side of the stack directly opposite the firstnamed arms and adjacent the vertical legs of the main frame, inwardlydirected pairs of links operatively connected to the arms for pivotalmovement in vertical planes and extending over the top of the stack,independently movable members to which the inner ends of the links ofeach pair are operatively connected, and means positioned to applylifting force substantially equally to the independently movable membersthereby to move the gripping arms in clamping relation to the stack andsubsequent thereto lift the entire apparatus and the stack.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 in which there are stack clampingmeans at the ends of the stack, which means comprises laterally slidablevertically disposed gripping arms, means connected to the independentlymovable members and adapted upon upward movement thereof to move saidend gripping arms into engagement with the ends of the stack, and othermeans connected to said independently movable member and adapted uponupward movement thereof to move the end gripping arms away from eachother to stack receiving position.

12. In apparatus for lifting a generally cubical stack of bricks or thelike wherein the apparatus is translatably supported on a liftingvehicle, a main frame comprising at least one pair of L- shaped sectionsdisposed with one of the legs thereof overlying the stack, the otherlegs being vertically disposed and long enough to hold the overlyinglegs spaced above the stack when the lower ends of the vertical legsrest on the surface supporting the stack, lateral cross bracing rigidlysecuring the sections together, tubes operatively connected to the mainframe extending partially across the top of the stack and equaling innumoer the number of bricks in the lowermost course of the stack,downwardly and inwardly directed gripper arms secured to the outer endsof said tubes and adapted to contact the bricks of the lower course nearthe longitudinal center thereof, members fitting snugly in each of saidtubes and slidable therein, gripper arms similar to the first named onessecured to the outer ends of said slidable members, a pair of links foreach arm pivoted thereto at their outer ends for movement in verticalplanes, sheave blocks for corresponding sets of said arms to which thelinks thereof are pivotally connected at their inner ends, an equalizingbar mounted for movement in a vertical plane above the sheave blocks,sheaves on the equalizing bar, a cable having its ends secured to theequalizing bar and passing alternately under the sheaves in the blocksand over the sheaves on the equalizing bar, means engaging theequalizing bar and adapted to apply a lifting force thereto thereby tomove the sheave blocks and said links upwardly and move the grippingarms into contact with the lower courses of bricks, and manuallyengageable hold-down means operatively carried by the main framedisposed when engaged to hold the equalizing bar in lowered positionwhen said lifting force is applied.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which the hold-down means isnormally biased to a position permitting the equalizing bar to moveupwardly when the lifting force is applied thereto.

14. The combination with stack lifting apparatus of the type embodyingsets of inwardly movable independently actuatable gripping arms disposedon opposite sides of the stack, of means to move said arms into contactwith the stack comprising an equalizing bar disposed aobve the arms,sheaves on the equalizing bar, a sheave block associated with each setof gripper arms, sheaves in said sheave blocks, a cable having its endsanchored and passing alternately under the sheaves of the blocks andover the sheaves of the equalizing bar, means operatively connecting thesets of arms to their associated sheave blocks and effective upon upwardmovement of the blocks to move the arms into engagement with the stack,and means engaging the equalizing bar and adapted to move the sameupwardly.

HERBERT J. NEHER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date ,308,021 Allen July 1, 1919 1,516,973 Loughran Nov. 25, 19241,577,347 Neumann Mar. 16, 1926 1,733,084 Schmidt et a1 Aug. 22, 19291,818,584 Schroeder u 1931 2,040,574 Sutcliife May 12, 1936 2,142,232Angstrom et a1. Jan. 3, 1939 2,375,747 Brown May 15, 1943

